Well, that's that for season 2 unfortunately, but did HBO's fantasy drama series ever go out on a high note. Nothing could match the overall spectacle of last week's episode, but "Valar Morghulis" did a great job in balancing the many different story arcs while finishing up the current chapters and leaving us VERY hungry for more.
In Kings Landing Lord Tywin takes full credit for saving the city, while poor Tyrion receives no thanks - save from Varys - and is stripped of his rank as Hand Of The King. The unfortunate Lannister also has the burden of some nasty facial scars after the battle, but at least Shae decides to stand by her half-man. At court, Joffrey decides to discard Sansa and pledge himself to the recently widowed Margery Tyrell, which the young Stark girl couldn't be happier about - until Littlefinger reminds her that just because the psychopathic King won't be marrying her, doesn't mean he will let her go home. Littlefinger promises to protect her and get her safely back to Winterfell. Why do I get the feeling the scheming bastard has something else in mind?
At Winterfell Theon is beginning to realize sticking around might not have been a very good idea, as he finds himself surrounded. Maester Luin actually offers some comfort to the misguided Greyjoy - as he knows that Theon didn't actually kill Bran and Rickon - and advises him to run. But Theon, showing some backbone for once, decides to stay and fight to the death. Unfortunately his men are not so eager to die, and after Theon delivers a rousing speech he is betrayed by Dagmar who knocks him unconscious. It seems they mean to hand him over to the Starks in exchange for their lives, and when Maester Luin kicks up a fuss Dagmar stabs the old man with a spear. Osha, Hodor and the boys emerge from their hiding place to find Winterfell in flames. They find the dying Luin, who bids them goodbye in an emotional scene. He implores Osha to protect them, even against other Wildlings. Osha agrees and grants the Maester the mercy of a quick death. Donald Sumpter has been outstanding as the honorable and kind hearted Luwin, and will be missed as a cast regular.
Poor old Robb Stark. How on Earth is he supposed to resist the charms of the lovely Talisa when he knows his betrothed has a face like a bag of hammers? Against the advice of his Mother the smitten "King In The North" marries Talisa in a secret ceremony. Something tells me Lord Frey will not be best pleased. Meanwhile Brienne and Jamie come across some hanged women, and when the three men responsible guess Jamie's identity she is forced to (easily) dispatch them. Could that be a look of respect we see on The Kingslayer's face?
As they continue on their way after escaping from Haranhall, Arya and her friends run into Jaquen once again. The mysterious Bravossi asks Arya to come with him to learn the way sof the Faceless Men and become a master assassin, but she refuses, explaning that she still needs to find the rest of her family. Jaquen gives her a coin, and tells her that if she ever wishes to seek him out, she must give it to any Barvossi and repeat the words "Valar Morghulis" - high Valaryan for "all men must die". He then leaves, but not before amazingly changing his features to appear as a completely different person.
In Quarth we finally get to see the House Of The Undying, as Dany and Jorah go in search of the dragons. The Khaleesi experiences various hallucinations, seemingly designed to tempt her into staying without a fight. The most powerful of which sees her reunited with Khal Drogo, and we get a nice cameo appearance from Jason Momoa. But Dany fights on, and when the creepy Warlock Pyatt Pree uses his magic to chain her up, in a fantastic scene the Mother of Dragons uses her own "powers" to get her children to breath fire and burn Pree to death. Then it's Xaro Xhoan Daxos' turn. Dany and co find the duplicitous merchant in bed with Doreah. Despite pleas for mercy from the hand-maiden, both she and Xaro are locked in his vault to die a slow death. Free to plunder the vast wealth of Quarth, Dany and her followers now have all they need to buy a ship and return to claim the Iron Throne.
Finally we see what's going on beyond The Wall with the captive Jon Snow. Qorin is determined to start a fight with Snow, believing that if the young ranger were to kill the seasoned veteran, he would be taken in and trusted by The Wildlings. Start a fight he does, and goads Snow with comments about his "traitor" Father before a furious Jon disarms him and runs him through. The Wildlings now believe he has joined them and Rattleshirt cuts his bonds, while Ygritte tells Jon he will now meet Mance Rayder - the "King beyond The Wall". In an epilogue, Sam, Grenn and Ed are gathering fuel for a fire back at the Nights Watch camp when they hear three horn blasts - "three for White Walkers". Grenn and Ed run but Sam can't keep up and hides instead. In a brilliant sweeping shot that brings back memories of
The Walking Dead, we see hundreds of Wights as they advance on the encampment, and finally get our first proper look at a White Walker. It is not a pretty sight.
Some feel this season wasn't quite as good as the last, and while it is true that some episodes did feel more like filler than anything we have seen from the first, the best episodes have been the strongest from either season. With this and last week's phenomenal "Blackwater",
Game Of Thrones has ended its second season on a big high, and makes it very hard for anyone to argue that this is indeed "the best show on television".